Wandoor National Park

Fluffy green carpets against shimmering shades of deep blue – the site that greets you as you approach the Wandoor Marine National Park.

Comprising about 15 lush green islands, creeks and open sea spread across 280 sqkm, the park is a pot pourri of natural wonders – thick mangrove forests, dense tropical jungles and above all, a brilliant spectrum of marine life.

As you gaze into the water through your snorkelling apparatus or glass-bottomed boats, you discover a whole New World altogether. More than 50 different varieties of corals, coloured coral reef fish, sea anemones, sharks, and water snakes reside in the park waters.

The islands themselves are laden with trees and shrubs, and the vegetation comes right down to the shores. Mangrove trees welcome you as you disembark. The leaves and debris of this tree form an important source of nutrient for the sea animals.

A walk into the island will lead you to a dazzling array of tropical flowers and orchids peeping through the thicket.

Most of the islands in the park are open for tourists, though one has to take special permission for staying overnight at these places. Accommodation is available mostly in the form of forest rest houses. Private operators organize tours in and around the park. Jolly Buoy, RedSkin and Cinque Islands are some of the most frequented islands.

Jolly Buoy: Situated around the center of the park, the Jolly Buoy island is popular for a circular reef that is exposed during low tide. Within the tide pools, one can see numerous sea cucumber, anemones, starfish, shells, turbots, and conch shells.

Redskin: The Redskin island has a large area covered by giant trees and mangrove forests. The island is also popular for numerous caves along its cliff and spotted deer, brought to the island by the British.

Cinque Island: The Cinque Islands are considered among the most beautiful islands in the Andamans. About 3½ hours from Wandoor by boat, the Cinque Islands are uninhabited but for the rare and exotic species of corals and marine life. The island is also worth visiting for the unusual sand bar which joins the sister islands of North and South Cinque. Only day visits are allowed unless one takes special permission.

GETTING THERE:

The Wandoor, the headquarters of the Wandoor Marine National Park is about 30 km by road from Port Blair. Regular buses ply from Port Blair to Wandoor. From Wandoor, boat services are available to the other islands in the park.

WHAT TO SEE:

Mangrove forests along the creeks and magnificent tropical forests on the islands. Coral reefs, exotic varieties of beautifully coloured coral fish and other marine life.

Marine Animals-

Coral
The park waters support more than 50 varieties of corals. Some important ones are: Acropora, Pocillopora, Montipora, Leptoseris, Fungia, Porites, Tubipora and Gorgonians.

Fish
The park waters abound in numerous varieties of coral reef fish. Some of these are clown fish, which stays within poisonous sea anemones, butterfly fish, surgeonfish, angelfish, parrotfish, batfish and groupers.

Occasionally, one can also spot sharks in these waters. White-tip shark, hammer-headed Shark, Manta-ray and Blue-fin Jack are some of the common varieties.

Reptiles
Turtles, water snakes, crocodiles and water monitor lizards are some of the commonly visible reptiles in the park. The beaches on Twin Islands and Rutland, are among the best nesting grounds for four species of marine turtles: green sea, leather back, hawks bill and olive ridley. The creeks inside the park are ideal for salt-water crocodile.

Other Marine Animals -

Star fish, sea lilly, feather star, giant clam shell, cowries, trochus, sea cucumber, sponges, sea anemones, and many varieties of crustaceans.

Land animals
Mammals, Andaman wild pig, spotted deer, civet,fruit bat.

Birds
Andaman teal, whistling teal, white-bellied sea eagle, Andaman serpent eagle, kingfisher, tern, wader, reef heron, swift, parakeet, lorikeet, pigeon, and dove.

Reptiles
Krait, cobra, king cobra, vine snake and python.

Trees and Plants
Dipterocarpus sp, Andaman padauk, Andaman bullet-wood, Terminalis sp., silk cotton tree, Thespesia, Pandanus, Cycus, bamboo, cane, orchid, and fern.

Mangroves
Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Avicennia, and Heritiera.